Robinsons’ BDM’S climb ‘over the hills’ in support of Help for Heroes

July 7, 2018

Robinsons Brewery have raised over £4,000 for Help for Heroes after scaling a total of 16,276 feet (a combined height greater than Mont Blanc).

The 6-strong team from Stockport climbed Scafell Pike (the highest mountain in England, at an elevation of 978 metres above sea level), Gragareth (the highest point in Lancashire at 628 metres), Kinder Scout (the highest hill in Derbyshire), Shining Tor (Cheshire), Cheeks Hill (Staffordshire) and Moel Famau (the highest hill in the Clwydian Range, formerly Flintshire Range, on the boundary between Denbighshire and Flintshire in Wales), and finally Mount Snowdon (the highest mountain in Wales, at an elevation of 1,085 metres above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside the Scottish Highlands) all in in the name of charity.

In January 2018, Robinsons Brewery, situated in the heart of Stockport, announced that they had joined forces with Help for Heroes – the British charity that supports Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families who have suffered injuries or illness as a result of their service to the Nation.

Help for Heroes met with the family owned brewers in the summer of 2017 to discuss the option of launching a new beer; which now exists as Light Brigade; a unique 4.1% ABV golden English ale brewed in collaboration with Iron Maiden, with 6p of each pint and 5p of each bottle sold donated to the honourable charity.

Since the brewery’s new partnership with Help for Heroes, the company’s employees have been participating in various activities to help raise funds for the charity. As part of the company-wide fundraising effort, the BDM team were challenged to devise a way of adding to the total raised for this excellent cause.

From the 20-22nd June, Robinsons’ Business Development Managers courageously climbed the highest mountain in each county/country where the majority of Robinsons’ tenanted pubs are located, all within 72 hours.

Tony Massey, Business Development Manager for Robinsons Brewery, said: “We thought up the challenge a few months back, unsurprisingly over a drink in a pub, without really realising the consequences of what we’d signed up for. Whilst we are all extremely passionate about raising money for a good cause, most of the team, myself included, are not spring chickens and we may have slightly underestimated the amount of training that should have been involved. It’s fair to say we are on the crest of the hill rather than ‘over the hill’ ourselves, however, despite different fitness and ability levels, this was a true team effort and a tribute to the camaraderie and can do spirit that is so well-known in the beer and pub industry.”

“We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported us and helped us to raise £4,063 for our heroes. We’d also like to say a special thanks to The Boot Inn in Eskdale, The Bulls Head Hotel in Castleton, and the Tanronnen Inn in Beddgelert, for feeding and watering us and generally looked after us.”

“Having survived the walk, with plenty of blisters and aching limbs to show for it, we would be extremely grateful for a little bit of extra support to help us reach £5,000. Our target was £2,500, which we have almost doubled, but it would be even better to be able to hand over a cheque for £5,000. Knowing the money is going to such a worthy cause makes all the aches and pain worth it.”

The team, who usually spend their days supporting Robinsons estate of 260 pubs, hiked up the county tops of Cumbria, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Denbighshire/Flintshire, and Gwynedd, which included the highest mountains in England and Wales, all within three days. After all the hiking, the team indulged in a well-earned bottle of Light Brigade.

After a tiring 3-day trek of non-stop climbing and tremendous efforts from all involved, the team have raised a substantial amount of money for Help for Heroes. To donate and show your support, click here (every penny counts).

Don’t forget, for each bottle of Light Brigade beer purchased, Robinsons will donate 5p to Help for Heroes.